The Land Trust for Tennessee and community partners announced "Trail Day: A Celebration of Signal Mountain’s Parkland."
The inaugural event will take place on Saturday, May 14, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., and the festivities will be centered around The Rainbow Lake trail head on Signal Mountain. Parking will be off-site at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church with shuttle service will be provided by Alexian Village.
Trail Day will be a free, family-friendly, educational event with an emphasis on exploring and learning about Signal Mountain’s natural areas. Trail Day will include talks by local historians; a variety of curated nature hikes; live bluegrass by the Laura Walker Trio and more.
“There are many unique things about Signal Mountain’s parkland,” said Joel Houser, The Land Trust for Tennessee’s Southeast Conservation director. “From their unique history to the many spectacular geological and ecological features, the parks have so much to offer. I spoke with the Mountain Stewards and other residents, and we decided that a celebration of Signal’s parks was in order. And that’s how the idea of Signal Mountain Trail Day came about.”
Much of Signal Mountain’s parkland is protected through a conservation easement held by The Land Trust for Tennessee, and Mr. Houser hopes that participants will leave the event with a new appreciation for their community parks and land conservation in general. “This event will be a great way for people to get outside and connect with the natural areas in their own backyard,” he said. “It’s these connections that cause people to feel the importance of protecting our natural resources and ecosystems. I’m excited – both about this year’s event and to see how Trail Day grows in the years ahead.”
The Land Trust for Tennessee is grateful for its partners who helped make this event possible, including Alexian Village, The Mountain Stewards, the Town of Signal Mountain, the Signal Mountain Parks Board, and St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church.
More information about Trail Day can be found at www.landtrusttn.org/signalmountaintrailday